Lecture set to share the secrets of book cover brilliance

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Lecture set to share the secrets of book cover brilliance

Elizabeth Hatherell, of Oxfam Books in Petergate, invites readers to discover the fascinating history of book covers, in a lecture to be given on March 9 by shop manager John McKay at the York Medical Society in Stonegate

NEVER judge a book by its cover, as the saying goes, but an event in York will teach visitors about just that.

Looking back at the evolution of the book cover from a functional protective jacket into a visual presentation representing the content of the tome, the event will include a lecture by John McKay, manager of Oxfam Books in Petergate.

Mr McKay, who has a PhD in Contemporary Scottish literature, also teaches literature courses for the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of York, and will discuss how the twentieth century saw jacket design develop into a marketing tool while signposting aspects of the text, allowing you to truly judge the book by its cover.

Elizabeth Hatherell, shop volunteer, said: “When you work somewhere that surrounds you with books, you begin to take more notice of them, and working with John has really opened my eyes to the importance of the book cover.

“This is going to be a wonderful evening and all the money is going to help provide books to children who really need them.”

The talk takes place at the York Medical Society, Stonegate, at 7pm on Monday, March 9. Tickets cost £4 from Oxfam in Petergate, and will include a complimentary glass of wine.

Proceeds will go towards buying school supplies for children who desperately need them.

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